Kim Hanly was just 26 years of age when she discovered she had cervical cancer. “I started having symptoms – back pain and irregular bleeding,” she says. “The GP’s exact words to me were, ‘Oh God no, you’re too young for it”.

Now cancer free, the 33-year-old will take part in the Irish Cancer Society’s Marathon in a Month this July. This is her third year in a row to take part, despite suffering from a number of related health conditions.

Marathon in a Month will see thousands across Ireland walk, run, cycle and swim 42km over the course of July to raise money for the Irish cancer charity.

Kim Hanly will take part in Marathon in a Month this July

“I know other people who do it, who are also cancer survivors as well,” says the mother of two. “And what we like about this is it’s spread out; we’re not all able for big runs.

“We feel that this is so all-inclusive that anyone can do it. There’s not this big pressure, and it’s fun. It’s a great initiative to get people out walking and exercising. There’s no negatives.”

Since she underwent a radical hysterectomy in 2012, Kim has suffered from a number of subsequent health issues. In 2013, a cyst was discovered on one of her ovaries, and it had to be removed. She had her remaining ovary removed in 2016.

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“When I had the radical hysterectomy, that was to save my life. I had no choice; it had to be done,” she says. But in the back of my head I thought, ‘Well, I still have my ovaries, so there’s always the possibility if I did want more kids’. And I did.”

Kim says she is thankful she already had two children, Shane (11) and Evan (9), before she underwent the operations. However as a result of having her ovaries removed, she had to face surgical menopause in her early thirties.

“Surgical menopause is harsher on your body than natural menopause,” she explains. “Your body goes into shock... Two hours after the surgery, I started sweating profusely. I couldn’t start HRT treatment until I was six weeks post-op. Because of the risk of your blood clotting. Those six weeks were absolute hell... It was horrific.”

Nevertheless, she continued to study for a degree in IT: “I didn’t miss a single class test, I just got on with it. But that’s how I cope with things. My Mam’s the exact same.”

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When she was first diagnosed in 2012, the Irish Cancer Society provided Kim with invaluable support, she says.

“I rang the Irish Cancer Society, because I saw they had a volunteer service. This was at the stage when I was going through all my scans to stage my cancer. I rang them, and I spoke to a lovely lady on the phone.

“I was looking stuff up online, but the UK and American health services are different. I wanted to speak to someone who’d dealt with it in this country, and maybe knew of places I could go to get support.

“So I rang them, and luckily enough they had one volunteer who had gone through cervical cancer. They gave my details to her and she rang me, and we were on the phone for ages. It was so good talking to someone who understood. We spoke for a long time.

“When you get a cancer diagnosis, I think it’s the most surreal experience anyone can have,” she says.

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“Everyone reacts differently. It could be someone that’s alone, and has no one to talk to. They’ll see that freephone number and they can ring up and there’s someone there. There’s a person at the end of the phone, highly trained to deal with this. They’re so sympathetic and they can give you all the information. That can make such a difference to how someone takes on their cancer journey.”

Kim says she feels it’s important to share her story and support the Irish Cancer Society, so it can continue to provide crucial services for cancer patients across Ireland. She is looking forward to taking part in Marathon in a Month in a week’s time, and tracking her progress.

“I always start on the 1st of July, that’s when I do my first walk,” she says. “I like to get in a good routine from the get-go.

“I try to push to get over the 42km, and it gives me something to focus on. It takes my mind off the other stuff.

“I can’t do high impact exercise, but walking really helps loosen my joints. Mentally it’s very good as well to clear the head. I’m benefitting from it, because I’m being active, which all my doctors are delighted about. And then I’m also raising money for the Irish Cancer Society.

“I’d encourage anyone to do it,” she says. “You might not realise how easy it can be. A few miles every day, and you’re golden.”